Ray on Game 7’s and friendly advice

Posted By
Paul Flannery
On
May 2, 2009 @ 8:03 pm
In
General |
1 Comment

We all prepare for moments of stress in our own way. About two hours before Game 7 Kendrick Perkins[1] was shooting free throws in a mostly empty Garden, while Derrick Rose[2] was at the other end of the floor working on his mid-range game. Up in Section 111, the kid who dances to “Livin on a Prayer” was working on his steps. (Sorry to break it to anyone who thought that was spontaneous.)

Ray Allen[3] wasn’t on the court because he had already gotten in his work as he always does. Allen’s legendary pregame shooting routine is a big reason why the veteran guard is generally calm and usually willing to talk to the press before games. While the media-to-player ratio on the locker room was at one time about 42-0 in favor of the press, Allen walked to his locker at approximately 6:55 p.m. and indicated he was ready to share some of his thoughts on the eve of yet another Game 7.

He talked about the disappointment when he was a Milwaukee Buck and the team found out that Scott Williams would be suspended while they were in the air flying to Philly for Game 7 of their Eastern Conference Finals series with the Sixers. He talked about a 70-year-old woman who came up to him in the grocery store and told him, “nice game.”

“I’ve been in series where the other team was favored and we played over our heads,” Allen said. “I’ve been in series where both teams were even. I’ve never been in a series like this where you look at so many games that could have gone either way.”

Allen was asked is he was tired. “No,” he said letting it sit there for a second. “This is what I train my body for, physically and mentally.” As for the hype of a Game 7, Allen said, “That’s for people on the outside looking in.”

As to whether this is the best series ever, Allen offered, “Regardless of who’s playing and what round it is, this has been great basketball.”